[CQ-Contest] computer switching
WD4K
Ttow1 at charter.net
Fri Dec 12 12:06:51 EST 2003
I solved the contest/daily computer situation very simply. I had my local
computer guy take a used machine, do some dos razzle on it, make it simple
and then tweek another office computer that can do internet/office
accounting etc. if I want, but at the same time do dos logging as well. A
simple switch allows both machines to use the same kb/monitor and printer
which gives me a backup if one should crash..at the flip of a switch. I have
TR and NA and other contest related software on both for redundancy. I moved
my office and built another box so I left those intact and it works
nicely..total cost was about $150 for the new "old" machine and 30 for the
switch, since I already had the one computer. Sits between a couple of
Alphas and no rf or other issues. I use an IBM laptop on my wireless LAN for
packet if needed when we do a multi. Not very sophisticated but all works
aok--so far:) 73, Tommy WD4K
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Today's Topics:
1. Sprint Date Change (Bill Fisher, W4AN)
2. Re: Sprint date change - I am NOT HAPPY
3. Re: CQ-Contest Digest, Vol 12, Issue 38 (Jim Fitzpatrick)
4. Sprint date change - I am VERY HAPPY (Mark Beckwith)
5. Re: Sprint date change - I am NOT HAPPY (Michael Tope)
6. Sprint Date Change (Hal Offutt)
7. Sprint CW (Joe)
8. Contest computer - here's what I did (K0HB )
9. Sprint Date Change (Ron Feutz)
10. Re: Contest computer - here's what I did (Pete Smith)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 17:01:48 -0500
From: "Bill Fisher, W4AN" <w4an at contesting.com>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Sprint Date Change
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I'm all in favor of the Sprint date change.
1) No FOC Marathon to run in to.
2) No RTTY contest to run in to.
3) No Valentines Day conflict to sacrafice XYL points
4) Probably more quiet band conditions
Two months notice seems like enough notice. Its not like this contest is
"happened upon" by many of the general ham population.
I'm sorry Scott may miss it though.
73
Bill Fisher
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 16:42:56 EST
From: PaulKB8N at aol.com
To: w4pa at yahoo.com, w0yk at msn.com
Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Sprint date change - I am NOT HAPPY
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Scott, Ron,
I hate to see anyone miss out on contest activity, especially due to a
short-notice change that, frankly, could have been handled better.
Nonetheless, there are probably at least as many of us who are pleased with
the change. Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve are the two most in-demand
nights for this piano player, so I'm a happy camper. I do agree with Ron
that
most missed special occasions can be rescheduled. In my case, the
Valentine's
Day "gig money" goes toward a getaway on some future weekend, with money
left
over for other things. Everything has its cost.
Anyway, my vote is "yeah" to the reschedule and "nay" to thed way it was
handled. See in in the Sprint!
Paul, K5AF
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 16:10:37 -0600
From: Jim Fitzpatrick <jhfitzpa at wiscmail.wisc.edu>
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Cc: "Scott R." <w4pa at yahoo.com>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Re: CQ-Contest Digest, Vol 12, Issue 38
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20031211155754.025b0178 at wiscmail.wisc.edu>
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I'm with Scott on this one. This won't affect me a whole lot personally,
since I can operate either weekend (I think, depending on my work schedule
for Jan which hasn't appeared yet), although the originally scheduled
weekend would be much better for me. I think it's a bad precedent to do
this on what amounts to about 6 weeks notice when the schedule has been set
for some time in publications and on the web. It's not exactly like when
sprints have been cancelled or rescheduled for natural disasters or
terrorist acts as in the past. Valentine's Day is nice, but it's not
exactly a major holiday. Let's face it, most years WW CW falls on the
weekend following Thanksgiving, and WPX CW falls on Memorial Day, major
holidays. These are 2 of my favorite contests, and I'd rather they be some
other weekends, but like most people I work around it. People have
discussed this issue in the past (please don't start another discussion
about this), but no rescheduling has occurred. Valentine's Day is Saturday.
Take your significant other out to brunch, and operate the contest.
My $.02
Jim WI9WI
At 12:00 PM 12/11/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>I have to say that changing the date of a contest two months beforehand
>when the date has been published for quite some time in advance is a
>BAD IDEA. We did this with the CW Sprint to avoid Labor Day weekend
>once before on short notice and that short-notice date change was
>shouted down. I strongly suggest this change be revoked, Tree.
>
>Anyone else ticked off about this?
>
>Scott Robbins, W4PA
>
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 16:30:05 -0600
From: "Mark Beckwith" <mark at concertart.com>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Sprint date change - I am VERY HAPPY
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>The ability to plan in advance is very important for many
>of us, I would hope contest organizers will keep that in mind.
I would have to say that apparently the contest organizers do keep this in
mind the vast majority of the time, given the relatively small number of
times contest periods have been changed, compared to the number of times
they have remained as announced. even the Sprint itself has a
better-than-95%-record on this.
Another way to look at it, I suppose, is if there have been 15 negative
posts out of 500 cq-contest readers, then the vast majority may, in fact,
not mind. Kudos to the vocal minority for making their voices heard.
Really it could have been anyone who drew the short straw. (I know I'd be
miffed if the change took me out of the competition). We're certainly
hearing from the unlucky people who got stiffed.
Like W4AN, I will miss everyone who can't make it because of the change. I
am for the 'Valentines Proviso' effective immediately. I'd encourage anyone
who feels the same to post accordingly.
Mark, N5OT
PS (I like Kenneth Harker's idea best of all, however, I had already made
alternate plans with my Valentine :)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 15:13:14 -0800
From: "Michael Tope" <W4EF at dellroy.com>
To: "Kenneth E. Harker" <kharker at cs.utexas.edu>,
"CQ Contest" <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Sprint date change - I am NOT HAPPY
Message-ID: <06df01c3c03c$5aa8d290$0100a8c0 at 1800XP>
References:
<EEEDJHFMDIEMEDAKKDOOEEFOMGAA.w0yk at msn.com><20031211190947.9048.qmail at web409
05.mail.yahoo.com>
<20031211194302.GG5273 at cs.utexas.edu>
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Message: 5
Can I add my two scores together? That way I might have a
prayer of beating Scott :):)
73 de Mike, W4EF (aka Lima One Delta)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kenneth E. Harker" <kharker at cs.utexas.edu>
To: "CQ Contest" <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 11:43 AM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Sprint date change - I am NOT HAPPY
> Maybe there should be two CW Sprints this season, and whichever
> weekend has the most logs submitted will be designated the real CW sprint.
> I bet a lot of people would operate both weekends.
>
> --
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> Kenneth E. Harker "Vox Clamantis in Deserto"
kharker at cs.utexas.edu
> University of Texas at Austin Amateur Radio Callsign:
WM5R
> Department of the Computer Sciences Central Texas DX & Contest
Club
> Taylor Hall TAY 2.124 Maintainer of Linux on
Laptops
> Austin, TX 78712-1188 USA
http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/kharker/
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> The world's top contesters battle it out in Finland!
> THE OFFICIAL FILM of WRTC 2002 now on professional DVD and VHS!
> http://home1.pacific.net.sg/~jamesb/
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 08:11:53 +0900
From: "Hal Offutt" <Hal at japancorporateresearch.com>
To: "cq-contest" <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Sprint Date Change
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Hi,
I'm not as ticked off as Scott (maybe 'cause I can't do as well in the
Sprints as he) but I am another victum of this change. I always consider
the contest calendar when scheduling my trips and try as much as possible to
be home for the good CW contests. Of course I often don't succeed but in
fact, I scheduled myself to return to the US on Feb 4, and one factor was
the Sprint date. I've missed most Sprints in recent years and it won't kill
me to miss another, but please sponsors take a look at the calendar several
years out and if a change needs to be made, give us at least six months'
notice.
I agree that not overlapping with a RTTY contest is a major advantage. It
seems like more and more CW events have been affected by the growing number
of RTTY contests.
73,
Hal W1NN
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 17:47:31 -0600
From: "Joe" <w5asp at earthlink.net>
To: <CQ-Contest at contesting.com>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Sprint CW
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Speaking as another "unlucky stiffed", I might point out that even as a =
semiannual "also ran" my forced absence actually represents several =
hundred QSOs that that won't be in the Sprint logs. While it's not =
particulary crucial to me, it just might inpact others. But whatever =
... my wife and I will be on the cruise that I carefully schedued so as =
to be around for CW Sprint ... which I do in fact really enjoy. Have =
fun ... we certainly will.
Joe, W5ASPFrom ah3c at frii.com Thu Dec 11 20:01:21 2003
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Subject: [CQ-Contest] Sprint
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Hi Tree & All -
It's fun to see such attachment to the Sprint. I remember when SCCC/NCCC
mini-challenges helped create the sprint...the 5 minute spurts were fun
practice. Recent comments are exposing the underlying spirit that the
Sprint brought out in the first place. Even the big guns are vying for
position on this one....I love it. Maybe I'll fire my 40/20 wet noodle up
and give it a go this year!
73,
Pete
RTT
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 01:08:15 -00
From: "K0HB " <k-zero-hb at earthlink.net>
To: "CQ-Contest" <CQ-Contest at contesting.com>,
"Minnesota Radiosport" <mn-wireless-assn at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Contest computer - here's what I did
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Message: 8
A couple weeks ago I asked here for advice on how to upgrade my
shack/office computer to a faster machine and more modern OS, and still
retain DOS-based functionality (CT, Hyperlog, and multiple serial ports).
For those who are facing similar issues, I thought I'd give you the benefit
of my experience.
Of the many responses (over 50) responses I received from the initial
query, the overwhelming response was to save the old machine intact for
contesting/radio 'stuff' and just set a new Win-XP box alongside with a KVM
switch to share a common monitor/keyboard/rodent. This solution appealed
to me because my old machine was proven and well suited to handling the
radio stuff and I wouldn't need to find a new box with ISA slots to handle
my serial port expansion needs, nor would I need to do any 'heroic' things
like dual-boot partitions on a new machine, to run DOS based contesting
programs.
Here's what I ended up doing.
I kept the old machine, a 350MHz AMD K6, running Win-98. It has 128 meg of
RAM, a 6-gig hard drive, CD ROM, 3 serial ports (two on an ISA card, one on
the motherboard) and an ethernet connector on the motherboard. In other
words, a more-than-adequate contesting computer.
My new machine is a 2.5GHz P4, running Win-XP. It has 512 meg of RAM, a
120-gig hard drive, 1 serial port, ethernet, etc. This is my new
office/software design computer. Cost $700.
Because I share the same workspace as my office and my shack and have
limited room, I share the monitor/keyboard/rodent through a Belkin 1x2 KVM
switch. This model came recommended by several people because it has high
bandwidth for modern monitors and is RF immune. It came with all the
necessary cables for about $60. You can switch back and forth with either
a keyboard command, or with a button on the switch itself. The unit is
draws power from the monitor connection, so no separate wall-wart is
needed. I've noticed no new RF in my rigs, and the switch seems immune to
full-legal limit on all HF bands, plus a couple of 50W 2m/440 rigs all
within 2 feet of it.
Then I networked both boxes together peer-to-peer with just a crosswired
adapter on the 10base-T ports which allows me to share files, printers,
scanner, internet connections, etc., between both boxes. Win-XP has a
super little wizard which makes the networking absolutely painless. You
don't need to know a damned thing except where to put the ethernet cable!
When I was shopping, I asked several sales people how to migrate all my
non-radio applications and files from the old to the new box. They all
recommended a software package called "PC Relocator" --- DON'T DO IT!!!!
First, PC RELOCATOR sets up it's own secret-protocol networking which
completely over-rides your previously-installed peer-to-peer connection,
causing you to need to rebuild it; second it's not cheap (about $70); and
third it turns out that Win-XP has a much better utility already built-in.
This seems to me to be the most painless way of making this transition for
folks who have a similar situation to mine. Just buy one new box and a
switch, set it down beside your old one, and tie them together, with no
need to disturb your old 'logging computer' in any fashion. What could be
simpler?
By the way, I'm quite impressed with Win-XP. After struggling through Win
3.0, 3.11, 95, and 98, it seems they pretty much 'got it right'.
73, de Hans, K0HB
--
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~k0hb
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 21:58:10 -0600
From: Ron Feutz <feutz at wctc.net>
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Sprint Date Change
Message-ID: <5.2.0.9.0.20031211215047.01f13700 at mail.wctc.net>
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Gents,
I regret putting my personal anecdotes in my first post. Any individual's
personal convenience or inconvenience is irrelevant.
This is a simple fairness issue. Those of us with lives outside radio,
which is most of us, plan our contesting months in advance. To make a last
minute change (yes, two months is last minute) after plans have been made
is not fair. We are not the "unlucky people who got stiffed". We are the
ones who had every right to be confident in the integrity of the published
schedules and planned accordingly.
73,
Ron - WA9IRV
At 04:30 PM 12/11/2003 -0600, you wrote:
> >The ability to plan in advance is very important for many
> >of us, I would hope contest organizers will keep that in mind.
>
>I would have to say that apparently the contest organizers do keep this in
>mind the vast majority of the time, given the relatively small number of
>times contest periods have been changed, compared to the number of times
>they have remained as announced. even the Sprint itself has a
>better-than-95%-record on this.
>
>Another way to look at it, I suppose, is if there have been 15 negative
>posts out of 500 cq-contest readers, then the vast majority may, in fact,
>not mind. Kudos to the vocal minority for making their voices heard.
>Really it could have been anyone who drew the short straw. (I know I'd be
>miffed if the change took me out of the competition). We're certainly
>hearing from the unlucky people who got stiffed.
>
>Like W4AN, I will miss everyone who can't make it because of the change. I
>am for the 'Valentines Proviso' effective immediately. I'd encourage
anyone
>who feels the same to post accordingly.
>
>Mark, N5OT
>
>PS (I like Kenneth Harker's idea best of all, however, I had already made
>alternate plans with my Valentine :)
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------
> The world's top contesters battle it out in Finland!
>THE OFFICIAL FILM of WRTC 2002 now on professional DVD and VHS!
> http://home1.pacific.net.sg/~jamesb/
>---------------------------------------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>CQ-Contest mailing list
>CQ-Contest at contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 06:59:51 -0500
From: Pete Smith <n4zr at contesting.com>
To: "CQ-Contest" <CQ-Contest at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Contest computer - here's what I did
Message-ID: <5.2.0.9.2.20031212065645.024921b0 at pop.dc2.adelphia.net>
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At 01:08 AM 12/12/03 +0000, K0HB wrote:
>This seems to me to be the most painless way of making this transition for
>folks who have a similar situation to mine. Just buy one new box and a
>switch, set it down beside your old one, and tie them together, with no
>need to disturb your old 'logging computer' in any fashion. What could be
>simpler?
Just a couple of cautions from my own hard experience. Don't buy a
mechanical KVM switch, even though that may seem like the least expensive
solution, and don't try to move a hard drive from one machine to another
and expect the operating system and applications to work because "it all
worked together before." The registry problems will turn your hair white,
what you have left after pulling most of it out.
73, Pete N4ZR
Happy Holidays
Check out the World HF Contest Station Database at
www.pvrc.org/wcsd/wcsdsearch.htm
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